Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Carlos Humberto Canales, Jr., 45, of Palatka, was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with six felonies related to the theft of and damage to CO2 tanks at two Newberry Square businesses.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call about a suspicious person loitering near Moe’s Southwest Grill and Pepper’s Mexican Grill. The caller reportedly said a male in dark clothing attempted to hide behind a metal cylinder when he drove into the parking lot.

The deputy reported that he saw a man, later identified as Canales, rolling a large metal tank toward Newberry Road near Moe’s Southwest Grill. The man reportedly had black liquid all over his hands, arms, and clothing, and he had a metal rod in his waistband. The deputy reported that Canales spontaneously said the tank was not stolen and that he got it from his friend JJ’s truck.

The deputy detained Canales for suspicion of theft, burglary, and loitering and prowling, and removed the rod, which he described as a “long-galvanized bolt.” A pat-down search of Canales reportedly found a bulge in his pocket, which was reportedly a glass pipe used for ingesting drugs. A probable cause search based on the pipe reportedly produced a broken lock and metal rod in Canales’ pockets.

The tank was later determined to be a 180-liter CO2 tank.

Post Miranda, Canales reportedly said he’d gotten the tank from his friend JJ, who delivers tanks to businesses in the area.

Deputies canvassed the area and reportedly found the same type of tank at Peppers Mexican Grill; it was lying on its side, and black liquid was leaking from a hose. Deputies reported finding a broken chain behind Moe’s Southwest Grill where a CO2 tank had previously been located. A Moe’s manager confirmed that there had been a CO2 tank in that spot and that the restaurant wanted to pursue charges. The tank is valued at about $2,000, and the damage to the restaurant was estimated at about $500. Deputies later made contact with a Peppers manager, and that restaurant also wanted to pursue charges.

Court records indicate that Canales has been in Alachua County for about a week. He has two felony convictions (none violent) and 25 misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has a pending felony case and a pending misdemeanor case in Putnam County for arson and petit theft. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $84,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.